Theater marquise



Dec. 18, 1934. w. o. PROUTY 1,

THEATER MARQUISE Filed Nov. 1, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR "B Y 1407/!) a Hal/(y v ,Z A TTORNE Y Dec. 18, 1934. w PROUTY 8 1,984,986

THEATER MARQUI SE Filegl Nov. 1, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 lNVENTOR B Y W7 is 0 P/bl/f 9 g a .9

, a ATTORNEY Patented Dec. 18, 1934 UNITED s I f-T HEATE MARQUISE WillisOJIh'outy,illermosaABeacli; Galif., assignor' to Metlox fiorporation,ntd lManhattanBeach Calif.,a;-corporation of California 1 ,5: Application- November 1, 1930; serial Nb. 492,730" Y Claims. chem- 1051' .This invention relates tofan illuhfinated display device having" decoratii' e or advertisin value. F'orv example, the invention can ,be readily applied to luminous tube eilects, anddcah be utilizedon such objects as a theater or hotl 'marquise,- .or on abillboard,'or thelike. H

.The use of luminous tubes having ,a .li llingof one or more noble monatomicL-ga'seslisnowwell understood, 1 and their application to-advertising is 'quitelgenerah Such tubes employa columnof gas such as neon,'helium orv argon, at-aspi essure ofthe order. o'ffrom four ermite-mini meters of mercury, and a high alternating cur-j rent voltage. is impressed across the comma, to produce the luminousg'low. Y

It is one ofthe objects of this i vention to-proe vide-a-display-deviqcrusing tubes of this or similar character, 'in' which there is a striking luminous display as by the aid of mirrors whereby there is specular reflection enhancing the brilliance of the entire display.

This result is'quite spectacular; but problems arise in connection with the mechanical support-. ing of the tubing over the mirror. It is another object of this invention to provide a structure that is practicable and sturdy; and especially by providing readily machinable material interposed between the mirrors, upon which material the tubes can be supported.

This machinable material is preferably made from insulation such as formica, or bakelite or any analogous material. For example, such classes of material as phenolic condensation products, resinous products, hard rubber, casein products, etc. can be used. In'this way the tube connections and supports can be mechanically joined to these machinable elements with facility.

Due to the use of such machinable material, striking color designs can be provided. This material can be black or dark, and polished, giving a modernistic design effect in conjunction with the mirrors. Accordingly it is another object of this invention to provide a striking design effect by alternating the mirrors and dark polished materials, overlaid with tubes of varying colors.

In order to ensure longevity, the supports for the glass and the insulation material are made to exclude moisture back of the glass and noncorrosive elements are provided therefor.

My invention possesses many other advantages, and has other objects which may be made more easily apparent from a consideration of one embodiment of my invention. For this purpose I have shown a form in the drawings accompanying and forming part of the present specification.

1 than now .pr oced to describe this form in .detail, which illustrates.the,generalLprinciples or my,.invention; but it} is to be understood I that thisldetailed descriptionis not tolbe taken in' alimiting sense, .since the scope ofmy in'vejn- L5 'tion is' best defined by. the appended claims. l

" Referring to thedrawings: I

,Figure 1 is a. perspective viewlof La marquise embodying the invention} fition T615" a prs 'eeuve View of, onelo'f the?" rors used-"in connection with the invention; r A

Fig. '3 is a perspective vie'wof a supporting iramefor themirror;

I Fig. Fi ls a-detail le'v. tion o-fflastrii'ctureem bodyinglthe -inventiomf Fig. 5" isfa sectional view, taken. along plane 5 -5 5 of Fig. 4;and'f f Y "'Fi'g'. 6 is a view similar 'to Fig. -'5, b'uton "an enlarged scale.

In the present instance the invention is shown as embodied in a marquise structure as shown I in Fig. 1. The'can or casing 11 can be made from sheet metal and can be made so as to accommodate a changeable series of letters to form a sign or legend, as for theaters. This legend or sign can be surrounded by decorated borders and elements that are constructed so as to embody the invention.

Thus, as shown clearly in Fig. 4, the casing 11 can include a flat support 12 to which are fastened various elements as will now be described. Mainly, these elements include a series. of mirrors 13 and 14, between which are alternated insulation pieces 15. These pieces can be made from bakelite, formica, hard rubber, or analogous readily machinable insulation material, especially such as phenolic condensation products, resinous products, or'casein products. These materials are adaptable because they can withstand exposure to the weather, and can acquire a gloss or polish. Preferably they are dark in color, so as to secure a definite contrast with the bright mirrors 13, 14.

The mirrors 13 are shown in the present instance as wedge shaped, although of course other forms could be used. In order to retain these mirrors in proper position on the backing or support, 12, there is provided for each of them a casing or retainer 16 (Fig. 3). This retainer is made from non-corrosive metal, such as the so-called Alleghany metal. It can be provided with flanges 17 that can be used to'retain the mirror 13 inv place. Ears 18 are also provided for firmly attaching these casings to support 12.

mi ar r tainers 19 are p vided for the lon oblong mirrors 14, which retainers are supported just as retainers 16.

The machinable members fit between the retainers 16, 19 and are shown in this instance as triangular in form. They can be fastened to the support 12 as by appropriate screws or bolts.

All of the parts supported on support 12 are especially chosen to withstand weathering for a long period. For this purpose, the backs of all the mirrors used are overlaid with some preservative compound 20, such as asphalt. This prevents any moisture from deteriorating the mirror coating.

Luminous tubes such as 20, 21 are supported over the front faces of the elements 13, 14, 15. Since glass is not readily machinable, the parts 15 are used as the supports. Thus these parts can be drilled to accommodate a socket or receptacle structure 22 into which the ends of tubes 20, 21 can be plugged to make contact with a separable contact structure. This receptacle 22 can extend all the "way through parts 12 and 15 and into the casing '11, in which leads. 23 can be provided for connecting the-tubes to a source of electrical energy. These receptacles 22 can be fastened to support 12 as by bolts 24 passing throughears 25 on receptacles 22.

Anyfurther supporting means can be used, separate from; the mirrors 13, 14; for example, the tubes 20, 21" which, overlie each other'can be boundtogether where they cross, as indicated at When the display device is used on a marquise or the like, the reflection of the tubes 20, 21 on the mirrors has a. striking effect. These reflections, however, should not overlap; accordingly it ispreferred to have strips such as 27 (Fig. 2)

that are frosted as by sand-blasting to provide a dull background immediately back of the tubes. In this way, no specular reflection can be seen when the device is viewed from directly in front; and whatever specular reflection occurs when viewed at an angle produces distinct and nonoverlapping images. Lettering therefore is rendered legible. i

I claim: I

1. In a display device, a series of mirrors made from vitreous material, machinable material sup-ported adjacent each side of the mirrors and extending substantially along each side, and luminous tubing supported on said material and disposed over the reflecting surfaces of the mirrors. directly to cast light thereon.

2. In a display device, a series of mirrors, machinable insulating material supported adjacent the sides of the mirrors, luminous tubing over the reflecting surfaces of the mirrors directly to cast light thereon, said tubing having ends, and receptacles supported in the machinable material for accommodating the ends of the tubing and thereby supporting. it.

3. The combination as set forth in claim 2, in which the machinable material and the mirrors alternate and their exposed surfaces being substantially coplanar.

4. In a marquise, a series of substantially co planar unperforated mirrors, made from vitreous material, a support for the mirrors, and one or more luminous tubes extending over one or more of the mirrors, to cast directlight thereon, and having ends supported in the support, said supports substantially occupying all space between the subsequent mirrors.

WILLIS O. PROUTY. 

